Jan 21, 2025

Web Site "Tasting Table" ranks Alabama as 13th for lowest fast food prices

Alabama

Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina

Alabama beats out nearly every other state when it comes to fast food prices, at least those on the list of benchmark items surveyed by BravoDeal and Slice of the Union. For the latter, the state even saw a strong 14.2 percent price hike in the cost of the large cheese pizza from 2023 to 2024.

Even then, its $16.89 price point remained a highly competitive one in contrast to many other states. Similarly, a Big Mac in Alabama averaged $3.99, with only Arkansas ($3.95) and Mississippi ($3.91) offering lower prices. In contrast, the same Domino's pizza that costs $18.99 in Hawaii is approximately $6 cheaper in Alabama, with only Kentucky ($12.79), Idaho ($12.35), and Nebraska ($11.99) giving more competitive pricing.

The Yellowhammer State's fast-food landscape is also constantly growing and evolving. In December 2024, a report on Fast Casual revealed a 10-unit franchise agreement for burrito brand Barberitos to establish locations across the state. The first two of those are expected to open in Wetumpka and Prattville by March 2025. Additionally, cheeseburger sliders specialists Smalls Sliders have plans to introduce four new locations in the counties of Mobile and Baldwin, with openings anticipated in 2025.

FULL STORY IS HERE.

A Montgomery Half-Marathon Promotional Idea from Tim Lennox

How about adding a special participant for this year's half-Marathon?

Beijing to host historic marathon event to be attended by human and robot runners in April

By Zhang Weilan Published: Jan 21, 2025 03:33 PM

t marathonThe 2024 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon began on November 10. The Tiangong robot, serving as a closing rabbit (a pacer who encourages and motivates runners to keep going), crossed the finish line alongside participants. Source: english.beijing.gov.cn

The 2024 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon began on November 10, 2024. The "Tiangong" robot, serving as a "closing rabbit" (a pacer who encourages and motivates runners to keep going), crossed the finish line alongside participants. Source: english.beijing.gov.cn

China is preparing for a groundbreaking event in April, as it hosts the world's first marathon to feature human and humanoid robot runners together, the Global Times learned from the event organizer, Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, on Tuesday.

For the first time, dozens of humanoid robots will participate in a half-marathon to be held in Beijing's Daxing district. Some 12,000 participants will take part in the race, with robots from more than 20 companies running alongside them on the 21km route, according to local authorities.

The top three finishers, whether human or robotic, will receive prizes, according to the organizer. Companies, research institutions, robot clubs, and universities will participate in the marathon with their humanoid robots. Remote-controlled and fully autonomous robots are eligible, and operators may replace batteries during the race.

The marathon will feature robots developed by over 20 companies, each meeting criteria that include a humanoid form and the capability to run on two legs. The humanoids must also be between 0.5 meters to 2 meters tall.

Among the notable participants is "Tiangong," a humanoid robot developed by China's Embodied Artificial Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center, which previously ran at the Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The integration of robots in marathons is becoming an increasing trend. Wei Jiaxing, marketing director of Tiangong's developer, told the Global Times on Tuesday that Tiangong, a humanoid robot with an average speed of 10 kilometers per hour, will participate in the race. "It will compete from start to finish in an official marathon for the first time," according to Wei.

China is positioning itself at the forefront of humanoid robot innovation. Taking Beijing as an example, the city is preparing for more robot-based competitions, including the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Sports Games later this year.

Beijing plans to hold in August the games' main events where humanoid robots will be the competitors, along with sideline events focusing on human-robot interactions. The main events will include major categories such as track and field, soccer, application scenarios, and integrated skills, the Global Times learned from the official website of the Beijing municipal government.

In 2025, Beijing plans to prioritize the development of future industries including humanoid robots, commercial space, biomanufacturing and new materials, according to the government work report presented to the third session of the 16th Beijing Municipal People's Congress on January 14.

"US tech companies, such as Tesla and NVIDIA, have certain advantages in areas like precise upper limb manipulation and operational capabilities, as well as in high-end chip manufacturing and cloud computing services," Yao Qiyuan, marketing manager of the Shenzhen-based EngineAI Robotics Technology Co, told the Global Times on Monday, adding that while Chinese companies excel in motion control technologies and the creation of advanced AI models, offering a wide variety of application scenarios.

"If we compare the humanoid robotics industry to a marathon, China and Western counterparts are all within the first 1,000 meters of the starting line," Jiao Jichao, vice-president and executive dean of UBTech Robotics' research department was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

Yao also noted that humanoid robots have applications beyond running marathons. They have potential in areas such as intelligent manufacturing, medical care, and the service industry. Success depends on reducing costs and expanding application scenarios, he added.

China's humanoid robot industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years. In 2023, China installed about 276,300 robots, representing 51 percent of global installations, according to the International Federation of Robotics. The nation's robotics industry is projected to grow to 400 billion yuan ($55 billion) by 2030.

According to local media outlet Shanghai Observer reports, Shanghai is actively promoting the development of the humanoid robot industry ecosystem, with several unicorn companies such as Fourier Intelligence, Agibot or Zhiyuan Robotics, emerging in the sector. Agibot shared footage of its manufacturing facility on its official website, which reportedly has produced 1,000 general-purpose embodied humanoid robots so far.

On the global stage, Tesla's bi-pedal humanoid robot Optimus is capable of navigating uneven terrain utilizing neural networks to manage its electric limbs, the company's CEO Elon Musk posted on X on December 2024. Musk has also predicted that by 2040, the global use of humanoid robots will exceed 10 billion.

Global Times

Proud of tRump? (With Tubberrville's approval added)

So does this affirm that tRump is ANTI-POLICE???????

WASHINGTON (AP) — The former leader of the Proud Boys and the founder of the Oath Keepers have been released from prison after their lengthy sentences for seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol were wiped away by a sweeping order from President Donald Trump benefiting more than 1,500 defendants.

Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes were two of the highest-profile Jan. 6 defendants and received some of the harshest punishments in what became the largest investigation in Justice Department history. Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, was serving an 18-year prison sentence, and Tarrio, of Miami, was serving a 22-year sentence after they were convicted of orchestrating plots to stop the peaceful transfer of power after Trump, a Republican, lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden.

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Other GOP reaction to their party's plan, from The Washington Post:

Among the most outspoken was former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), who told Semafor: “No one should excuse violence. And particularly violence against police officers.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy (Louisiana) offered similar comments, telling reporters, “People who assault police officers, if they do the crime, they should do the time.”

“I’m disappointed to see that, and I do fear the message that is sent to these great men and women that stood by us,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) said, referring to the Capitol Police officers who were assaulted.

Sen. Thom Tillis (North Carolina) added: “Anybody who is convicted of assault on a police officer, I can’t get there, at all. I think it was a bad idea.”

See the fulll WP Story HEREhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/21/republican-reaction-jan-6-violent-offenders-trump-pardon/

ADDED: Tuberville's approval:

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (Alabama) said that he was “100 percent” for all of the pardons and that the defendants had served enough time. When pressed on those who assaulted police, Tuberville said that was “not acceptable” but that he “didn’t see” the video.

A tiny SNOWSTORM!

SNOW!

Pretty rare here in Alabama, but steady flurries are falling today! Not sure how much will accumulate, but the bottom photo is from May of 2021, with a lot more!

Thanks Enzo

Winter Storm Enzo Bringing Rare Snow, Ice To Gulf Coast, Including Historic Snowfall Totals

(No snow so far in Montgomery, but we're watching!) 8:25AM on 1/21/25

God is on his side?

“I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.”

NY Times Editorial Board

Opinion

The Editorial Board

Trump’s Opening Act of Contempt

Jan. 20, 2025

An illustration of a stack of cards reading, “Get our of jail free,” tied with a red bow. — Credit...Illustration by Rebecca Chew/The New York Times

Listen to this article · 9:28 min Learn more

By The Editorial Board

The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. It is separate from the newsroom.

On Jan. 6, 2021, Philip Sean Grillo, a former Republican district leader in Queens, jumped through a broken window at the U.S. Capitol with a megaphone. He pushed his way past a line of Capitol Police officers and opened the exterior doors of the Rotunda to allow other rioters to enter the building and trash it. “We stormed the Capitol!” he exulted on video, and was seen smoking marijuana and high-fiving other Donald Trump supporters who were fighting the police. “We shut it down! We did it!”

Nearly three years later, a federal jury convicted Mr. Grillo of multiple offenses. But he did not lose heart: Last month, when he was sentenced to a year in prison, he had a special taunt for the federal district judge who sentenced him, Royce Lamberth.

“Trump’s going to pardon me anyways,” he yelled at the judge, just before he was handcuffed and led away.

He was right. On Monday evening, several hours after President Trump was inaugurated, he fulfilled a promise he had repeatedly made to pardon nearly all the rioters who attacked and desecrated the Capitol in 2021 to prevent Joe Biden’s victory from being certified. Mr. Grillo and about 1,500 other rioters received full pardons from Mr. Trump, while 14 others received commuted sentences.

A presidential pardon for Mr. Grillo not only makes a mockery of his jury’s verdict and of Judge Lamberth’s sentence. Mr. Trump’s mass pardon effectively makes a mockery of a justice system that has labored for four years to charge nearly 1,600 people who tried to stop the Constitution in its tracks, a system that convicted 1,100 of them and that sentenced more than 600 of them to prison.

Most important, the mass pardon sends a message to the country and the world that violating the law in support of Mr. Trump and his movement will be rewarded, especially when considered alongside his previous pardons of his advisers. It loudly proclaims, from the nation’s highest office, that the rioters did nothing wrong, that violence is a perfectly legitimate form of political expression and that no price need be paid by those who seek to disrupt a sacred constitutional transfer of power.

The presidential pardon system is usually abused in modern times by departing presidents giving a final gift to cronies, donors or relatives, and those breaches of trust were bad enough. Mr. Biden issued dubious pardons to his son and, as he walked out the door, several other family members, as well as pre-emptive pardons to an array of current and former government officials for noncriminal actions, all to protect them from potential Republican retribution — an expansive use of pardon power that further warps its purpose.

But what Mr. Trump did Monday is of an entirely different scope. He used a mass pardon at the beginning of his term to write a false chapter of American history, to try to erase a crime committed against the foundations of American democracy.

To open his term with such an act of contempt toward the legal system is audacious, even for Mr. Trump, and should send an alarming signal to Democrats and Republicans alike. Members of both parties had to protect themselves that day from the mob, which made little distinction in political affiliation or ideology as they called for the execution of Vice President Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House. In this pardon, Mr. Trump forgave and thus provided encouragement for domestic terrorists who put members of Congress in danger of their lives; the long-term cost will be paid by the entire political system, not just his critics.

For four years, he has tried to stage-manage the erasure of his role in inspiring the assault. It was only hours after the attack that his allies in the House and on Fox News began sowing doubt about the motivation for the rioters, claiming it was organized by leftists masquerading as Trump supporters. By 2022, when he was under investigation by the House Jan. 6 committee, he began referring to the rioters as “political prisoners” persecuted by Democrats and openly suggesting that the F.B.I. had helped stage the attack. By the time his presidential campaign was in full swing last year, he had completely transformed the day’s monstrous bloody fury into what he called a “day of love” and insisted falsely that none of his supporters had brought guns to the Capitol.

But Mr. Trump’s dense fog of misinformation can’t change what really happened on that terrible day, which, as the Times editorial board wrote at the time, “touched the darkest memories and fears of democracies the world over.” It was a sentiment in the early aftermath of the attack echoed even by senior Republicans, some of whom would go on to vote to impeach Mr. Trump for his role in instigating it.

At least 20 people who joined the attack did carry firearms onto the Capitol grounds, including Christopher Alberts, who wore body armor containing metal plates and carried a 9-millimeter pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, along with a separate 12-round holster that included hollow-point bullets. He was sentenced to 84 months in prison after a jury convicted him of nine charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers, but received a full pardon on Monday. More than 140 police officers were assaulted that day; Brian Sicknick, a Capitol Police officer, was killed, and other officers were smashed in the head with weapons; they were bruised, burned and lacerated; four later died by suicide.

“My concern is that people are going to believe that if they attack me or members of my family physically that Donald Trump will absolve them of their acts,” Michael Fanone, a former police officer attacked by the crowd on Jan. 6, told The Times. “And who is to say he wouldn’t?”

For many of the officers who were pepper-sprayed or hit with two-by-fours or beaten that day, the thought that the nation’s chief executive would forgive such actions is despicable. “Releasing those who assaulted us from blame would be a desecration of justice,” Aquilino Gonell, a former Capitol Police sergeant who suffered lasting injuries in the riot, wrote in a Times Opinion guest essay this month. “If Mr. Trump wants to heal our divided nation, he’ll let their convictions stand.”

Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers militia, which helped organize the assault, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of seditious conspiracy for assembling $20,000 worth of assault weaponry intended to be used at the Capitol. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who sentenced Mr. Rhodes, called him “an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, to the Republic and the very fabric of our democracy.” Judge Mehta later said he was appalled by the idea that Mr. Rhodes could receive a pardon.

“The notion that Stewart Rhodes could be absolved is frightening and ought to be frightening to anyone who cares about democracy in this country,” the judge said last month.

Mr. Rhodes was not pardoned, but his sentence was commuted, and he was scheduled to be immediately released.

Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys militia, was described by a federal judge as the “ultimate leader” of the rebellion, though he was arrested and barred from Washington as soon as he arrived there and didn’t enter the Capitol. Nonetheless, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison after the Justice Department said that by “inflaming the group with rage against law enforcement and then turning it loose on the Capitol, Tarrio did far more harm than he could have as an individual rioter.” Two weeks ago, on Jan. 6, his lawyer wrote to Mr. Trump asking for a pardon, describing his client as “nothing more than a proud American that believes in true conservative values,” and his request was granted on Monday.

Judge Lamberth, a senior federal judge appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the D.C. District Court, has been on the bench since 1987 and has seen it all, having served with the Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps in Vietnam and as a federal prosecutor in Washington during the 1970s. But in pronouncing one sentence against a rioter last January, he said he had never seen such a level of “meritless justifications of criminal activity” in the political mainstream.

“I have been dismayed to see distortions and outright falsehoods seep into the public consciousness,” he wrote. “I have been shocked to watch some public figures try to rewrite history, claiming rioters behaved ‘in an orderly fashion’ like ordinary tourists or martyrizing convicted Jan. 6 defendants as ‘political prisoners’ or even, incredibly, ‘hostages.’ That is all preposterous. But the court fears that such destructive, misguided rhetoric could presage further danger to our country.”

On his first day back in public office, Mr. Trump provoked the danger that the judge dreads, setting loose hundreds of people found guilty of participating in a violent assault on the nation’s Capitol — not because they committed no crimes but because they committed their crimes in his name. In doing so, he invites such crimes to happen again.

Jan 20, 2025

tRump on "J6 "Hostages"

“You’re going to see a lot of action on the J6 hostages,” tRump said during that event, which telegraphed his intentions hours before his signing ceremony.

Hostages????????????????????????????????????????????????????

The Jan. 6 Capitol riot: A look back at Americans' reactions | Pew Research Center

Hyundai Paint Problems

Customers who bought (mostly white) Made-in-Alabama Hyundai vehicles are reporting problems with peeling paint!

The company responds:

"Certain Elantra, Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles may exhibit peeling or bubbling of the white paint in various areas of the vehicle, most commonly on or around the hood, fender and roof. At Hyundai, we are committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commitment:

• The warranty coverage for certain 2017 model year Elantra, Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles has been extended to 6 years from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use with unlimited miles.

• The warranty coverage for certain 2018 model year Elantra, Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles has been extended to 5 years from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use with unlimited miles."

Look HERE for a link to report your vehicle.

Alabama Relaxed? How about Among the LEAST relaxed States?

The 10 least relaxed states were all concentrated in the southern and southwestern states. West Virginia was the most stressed, followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Kentucky. The most relaxed states were more spread out across the country, but the Midwestern and Northeast were the most represented in the top 10.

SOURCE: HERE.

You voted for him?

Day one action:

Defining 'sex' and ending DEI programs

Trump will sign an executive order on Monday that says it's the policy of the United States to recognize two biologically distinct sexes — male and female — an incoming White House official told reporters on a preview conference call on Monday.

"These are sexes that are not changeable, and they are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality," the official said.

The change will require government agencies to use the definitions on documents like passports, visas and employee records the official said. Taxpayer funds will not be allowed to be used for "transition services," the official said.

A second order will end diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government, the official said, giving as examples environmental justice programs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as diversity training.

Alabama Ranks 45th as a place to raise a family

....or so says Wallethub.

1. Massachusetts
2. Minnesota
3. North Dakota
4. Nebraska
5. New Hampshire
6. New York
7. Illinois
8. Wisconsin
9. Maine
10. Connecticut

And at the bottom of the pack:

41. Arizona
42. South Carolina
43. Louisiana
44. Arkansas
45. Alabama
46. Oklahoma
47. Nevada
48. West Virginia
49. Mississippi
50. New Mexico
The full story is HERE

Great Timing?

On the eve of the first "big" snow day in the South in years, and a company (Allen Media Group) that owns 22 TV Stations is laying off all of their weather meteorologists, including WCOV here in Montgomery.

“Severe weather coverage remains a top priority, and the new format will dramatically improve reporting capabilities, especially in high-stakes weather situations. This initiative aims to transform the way local weather is reported -- ensuring the most accurate, timely, and engaging forecasts for communities across the country"

One weather guy---ONE NOT IMPACTED--- says it's GOOD news:

"media consumption is radically different now, and we have to change how our products and services reach you,” James Spann posted on Facebook.

“Yes, there will be short term pain, but there will be long term gain,” Spann added.

That's right...they'll provide BETTER weather coverage by firing all of their local weather people and depending on info from The Weather Channel.

Gee, I wonder how much money they'll save. Could that be a factor? Wanna buy a bridge?

(This photo is from an unrelated Allan Company news release)

The owner of the TV station company is Byron Allen:

Trump & Race

from an AP story.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial | National Park Foundation

Trump’s views on race have been criticized for decades. The federal government sued Trump for allegedly discriminating against Black apartment seekers in the 1970s. He was instrumental in promoting the “birther” conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the U.S. And his campaign rhetoric about immigrants and urban communities since 2015 up to November’s election has been derided as prejudiced.

As president, Trump enacted some criminal justice reform laws that civil rights advocates praised but then proposed harsh crackdowns on 2020 racial reckoning protests.

In April, Trump did not dispute the notion that “anti-white racism” now represents a greater problem in the U.S. than systemic racism against Black Americans.

“I think there is a definite anti-white feeling in this country and that can’t be allowed either,” Trump said during an interview with Time magazine.

Jan 19, 2025

Hope for The LCS Montgomery?

The U.S. Navy may have found an expensive way to make some of the LCS ships more usable. Allow them to fire missiles at enemy drones. It does NOT include the LCS Montgomery and other Independence variant ships, but it could lead to that improvement! "Hope springs", as the saying goes.

A Naval news release addresses the upgrade needed for it to work:

The LCS Montgomery, named after Alabama's Capitol

"The U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules program office has successfully delivered critical Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) capabilities to the forward-deployed Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17).

In Fall 2024, the program upgraded both the software and hardware of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) to enhance the ship’s defense posture while on deployment. This rapid deployment of C-UAS capability underscores the flexibility of SSMM in addressing a range of threats, including surface, land and aerial challenges."

Which Alabama City ranks in the Top 25 Cheapest in the U.S.?

SOURCE: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-25-most-affordable-cities-in-america/

Rank	City	State	Average Household Monthly Spend	% of Average Household Income
1	Detroit	MI	$1,640	53%
2	Cleveland	OH	$1,735	41%
3	Dayton	OH	$1,773	32%
4	El Paso	TX	$1,784	38%
5	Rochester	NY	$1,858	35%
6	Oklahoma City	OK	$1,896	38%
7	Albuquerque	NM	$1,907	36%
8	Memphis	TN	$1,912	43%
9	Louisville	KY	$1,936	34%
10	Indianapolis	IN	$1,976	38%
11	Tucson	AZ	$1,982	36%
12	Saint Louis	MO	$2,003	35%
13	Kansas City	MO	$2,045	36%
14	Philadelphia	PA	$2,060	41%
15	Cincinnati	OH	$2,065	35%
16	Omaha	NE	$2,091	32%
17	Pittsburgh	PA	$2,099	34%
18	Columbus	OH	$2,101	39%
19	San Antonio	TX	$2,161	38%
20	Jacksonville	FL	$2,164	40%
21	Milwaukee	WI	$2,212	45%
22	Birmingham	AL	$2,214	37%
23	Houston	TX	$2,232	39%
24	Minneapolis	MN	$2,237	30%
25	Fort Worth	TX	$2,249	37%

Black Militia in Montgomery

The Capitol City Guards: The Capital City Guards was a unit of black militiamen that organized in Montgomery in 1885 and remained active until 1905. (Read more about black militias in Alabama HERE.)

MLK Day events postponed

Montgomery Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day Events Rescheduled Due to Freezing Weather

Written By Ashley Roseboro

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2025

Montgomery, AL—Due to the freezing weather forecast for Monday, January 20, 2025, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade, Family Fun Day, and Birthday Bash have been postponed to a later date. The Montgomery Martin Luther King Day Committee prioritizes the safety and well-being of the community and has made this decision out of an abundance of caution.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” said State Senator Kirk Hatcher. “However, the safety of our community is our top priority. We encourage everyone to take necessary precautions, stay safe, and keep warm during the expected cold weather.”

A new date for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations will be announced soon. Please be sure to stay connected through our official website and social media channels for updates.

For more information, visit www.mlkdaymgm.com.

SNO*W

Snowmap011825

FIGID swearing-in.

Get ready for an even bigger chill. Siberian air to make tRump swearing-in on Monday the coldest in 40 years (as a result, the ceremony will be held inside).

I'm sure tRump will complain he is being treated unfairly! "How could they do this to me???"

Jan 18, 2025

Way Back When

On this date in 1972 I ended my three years in The U.S. Army.

At the Start of my service, 1969

Anchoring the news on TV in Quang Tri, Vietnam.

In always very wet or very dry in 'Nam.

Jan 17, 2025

I'm a BIG fan of naps!

And they CAN be good for you!

Unlocking the Meaning of Sheep in Dreams: A Comprehensive Guide

Naps can help improve your cognition. Here’s how to take a better nap.

"Even a speedy 10-minute nap can have profound effects on our cognition and mood in addition to alleviating afternoon slumps."

FULL Washington Post Story is HERE.

Retire in Alabama?

Our state is almost dead last when it comes to ranking the states as best and worst for retirement.

"Worst States

New Jersey is the worst state to retire, driven by its high cost of living and income tax rate of 10.75% for top earners. It lands in the middle of the pack when it comes to the size of its older community (17.7%), its Supplemental Security Income payment ($660), and the availability of arts and recreational facilities (268 per 100,000 older adults).

Apart from New Jersey, No. 45 Massachusetts and No. 49 Kansas were the only non-Southern states to rank in the bottom 10. Massachusetts was brought down by its high costs – it is the least affordable state for seniors in the U.S. – while Kansas had a low quality of life and poor health care.

Meanwhile, the rest of the bottom 10 spanned the Southeast and Southwest: No. 50 Alabama, No. 48 Georgia, No. 47 Oklahoma, No. 46 Mississippi, No. 44 South Carolina, No. 43 Texas and No. 42 Arizona. These states tended to have unhealthy seniors and below-average spending on long-term care. However, they did typically have larger older populations, lower costs of living and among the best weather in the country."